👋 15 Labor Day Weekend Events, Hollywood in Our Backyard, Top Headlines & More!

Did you know some pretty famous movies were filmed right here in the Northwest Suburbs? We left off popular Chicago-area classics like Home Alone and Risky Business because those were filmed primarily in the North Shore suburbs, not our neck of the woods. Here are 13 movies with real Northwest Suburban ties: (Link)

With summer winding down, it’s a great time to give your home a fresh reset before fall. With over 290+ 5-star reviews, Naturally Maid Cleaning Co. is offering Northwest Neighbor readers a special 3-hour recurring clean for $169.99 with code NWNeighbor, plus discounted 4 and 5-hour options. Locally owned, eco-friendly options available, and spots are limited. Fill out the short 10-second form to book your cleaning today! (Book a Cleaning!)

More than a dozen data centers near O’Hare are receiving tens of millions of dollars in property tax breaks this year, including facilities in Elk Grove Village, Northlake and Franklin Park.

The reductions have sparked backlash from some residents concerned that more of the tax burden could shift to suburban homeowners. (Link)

A Heat Advisory is in effect for Cook County & several surrounding counties Tuesday & Wednesday, with dangerously hot conditions expected across the Chicago area. (Link)

The Cook County Board of Review is now accepting 2026 property tax assessment appeals for Elk Grove and Maine townships, along with several others. The filing deadline is Sept. 29. (Link)

• Arlington Heights: Arlington Heights Memorial Library has debuted a new bookmobile, bringing library services, books and resources directly into the community.

• Bartlett: Bartlett’s village-wide garage sale will take place Sept. 10-12, and residents can participate without needing an individual garage sale permit.

• Crystal Lake: The city will hold a public open house Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 4-7 PM at City Hall to gather community feedback on the potential purchase and use of 200 E. Congress Parkway.

• Des Plaines: The city has posted key dates for the April 6, 2027 Consolidated Election, with candidate petition circulation already underway and filing scheduled for Nov. 16-23.

• Elk Grove Village: Construction is moving forward on Microsoft’s 36+ acre data center campus in the Elk Grove Technology Park, with multiple buildings planned to support the company’s growing cloud infrastructure.

• Hoffman Estates: The 20th annual Platzkonzert Germanfest returns Sept. 11-13 at the Village Green with German music, food, beer, contests and family activities.

• Palatine: A mobile emissions testing unit will be at Community Park on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 8 AM-2 PM, giving eligible motorists another convenient option for required vehicle testing.

• Schaumburg: The 55th annual Septemberfest returns Sept. 5-7 with live music, food, a carnival, arts and crafts, a parade and more. Admission is free.

• Wheeling: Wheeling Police say the village’s Flock license plate reader cameras have recently helped with several investigations, including threats, burglaries, package theft and locating suspects.

HOTWORX (Park Ridge) | Sep 1st | 24/7 infrared fitness studio offering short, virtually guided workouts. (Link)

Advantage Material Handling (Mundelein) | Sep 3rd | Forklift sales, rentals, repairs and material handling equipment services. (Link)

L'Air (Arlington Heights) | Grand Opening Sept 5, 10am - 6pm | New niche + independent fragrance boutique bringing curated selection of unique fragrances. (Link)

HB Skin Med Spa (Arlington Heights) | Offers personalized skincare treatments using certified brands and advanced technologies | 405 S. Arlington Heights Road.

Made in Elgin (Elgin) | A shop showcasing goods made in Elgin by small businesses in the area. (Link)

My wife and I recently visited Carlos & Carlos Restaurant in Downtown Arlington Heights to celebrate my sister’s birthday, and we had a great experience.

The restaurant has been serving the community since 1985 and was founded by brothers Carlos and Eddy. We even had the chance to meet Carlos, who was working behind the bar all night, along with his wife.

We had a party of 10, and everyone seemed to order something different. I went with the Risotto Di Vitello, while my wife had the Linguini Pescatore, and both were excellent. We also really enjoyed the Italian sausage appetizer with pasta.

The service was friendly and accommodating, the outdoor seating is perfect for nice-weather days, and the whole place has a warm, traditional family-run feel.

If you’re in Downtown Arlington Heights and haven’t been yet, we’d definitely recommend giving it a try. (Link)

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